High School Sports

Juneau’s unified football cheerleaders supported the football team Friday night in Anchorage and picked up a slew of awards, including “Grand Master Champs” at Saturday's "Rally in the Valley" cheer competition at Colony High School in Palmer. (Courtesy photo/Carlene Nore)

Juneau’s cheerleaders bring home a W

Team earns top honors at the Rally in the Valley

Juneau’s unified football cheerleaders supported the football team Friday night in Anchorage and picked up a slew of awards, including “Grand Master Champs” at Saturday's "Rally in the Valley" cheer competition at Colony High School in Palmer. (Courtesy photo/Carlene Nore)
James Connally (10), a senior, and Payton Grant, a junior, embrace following a touchdown. Connally caught and threw for a touchdown in the Huskies’ 30-17 loss to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / Larry Schrader)

Juneau’s title chase comes to an end against East Anchorage

The Juneau Huskies finished their 2021 season as runner-ups for the state’s Division I title.

James Connally (10), a senior, and Payton Grant, a junior, embrace following a touchdown. Connally caught and threw for a touchdown in the Huskies’ 30-17 loss to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / Larry Schrader)
Payton Grant, a junior wide receiver, makes a move following a reception against Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. The Huskies won their last game against East 39-28 on Saturday, Sept. 4 at home. The two teams will play again for a state championship at Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Empire Live: Huskies play hard, fall short of title

Thunderbirds win the state championship 30-17.

Payton Grant, a junior wide receiver, makes a move following a reception against Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. The Huskies won their last game against East 39-28 on Saturday, Sept. 4 at home. The two teams will play again for a state championship at Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Huskies quarterback Noah Chambers, a senior, celebrates after moving through a tunnel of fans and cheerleaders following Juneau’s second-round playoff win. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies are heading to state

Huskies dominate in home win.

Juneau Huskies quarterback Noah Chambers, a senior, celebrates after moving through a tunnel of fans and cheerleaders following Juneau’s second-round playoff win. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Jarrell Williams, a junior defensive back, prepares to tackle Roman Smith. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies win at home behind big second half

Bartlett comes to town next week.

Jarrell Williams, a junior defensive back, prepares to tackle Roman Smith. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sam Sika, a junior who plays full back and defensive line for the Huskies, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Photos: The Juneau Huskies’ season from practice to playoffs

The season continues at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Sam Sika, a junior who plays full back and defensive line for the Huskies, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Brandon Campbell chases down a Dimond ball carrier during an Aug. 21 game. The Juneau Huskies and Dimond Lynx will face off again on Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Huskies ready for a home playoff game

Kickoff is at 3 p.m.

Brandon Campbell chases down a Dimond ball carrier during an Aug. 21 game. The Juneau Huskies and Dimond Lynx will face off again on Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: The Huskies are conference champs

Takeways from the Week 7 win and a look ahead to the playoffs.

James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Lucas White (21) and two other Huskies take down a player from Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said solid tackling by White and others played a major role in the Huskie's 27-14 win against Bartlett High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

7 points: Huskies make it 3 in a row

Next game is senior night.

Lucas White (21) and two other Huskies take down a player from Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said solid tackling by White and others played a major role in the Huskie's 27-14 win against Bartlett High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Payton Grant, left, plays football against East Anchorage High School on Sept. 4, 2021. Grant scored in last week’s away game against Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

7 points: Juneau football brings the heat to Service in away game

It’s Juneau’s first road win for the season.

Payton Grant, left, plays football against East Anchorage High School on Sept. 4, 2021. Grant scored in last week’s away game against Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau's Wallace Adams, a senior, trudges forward while draped in East Anchorage defenders. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: Huskies outlast East Anchorage

Takeaways from Saturday’s game and a look ahead.

Juneau's Wallace Adams, a senior, trudges forward while draped in East Anchorage defenders. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Huskies practice on Aug. 10. The high school football team's record stands at 2-1 following a loss to West Anchorage over the weekend. On Saturday, Juneau will host East Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

7 points: Despite good first half, West Anchorage takes Huskies down

Juneau turns in a solid performance on an away game.

The Juneau Huskies practice on Aug. 10. The high school football team's record stands at 2-1 following a loss to West Anchorage over the weekend. On Saturday, Juneau will host East Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Jamal Johnson fights for extra yards during Juneau's 35-6 win against Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: Juneau jumps out to 2-0 record

Juneau, 2-0.

Jamal Johnson fights for extra yards during Juneau's 35-6 win against Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Rayna Tuckwood, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore, sprints to the finish during a cross country race at Savikko Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Tuckwood would place first with a time of 20:20 as the JDHS girls took the first five places. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Cross country teams coming out of the gates hot

JDHS girls scored a perfect meet: five-for-five.

Rayna Tuckwood, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore, sprints to the finish during a cross country race at Savikko Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Tuckwood would place first with a time of 20:20 as the JDHS girls took the first five places. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Runners from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cross country team practice during the preseason. (Courtesy photo / Tristan Knutson-Lombardo)

Cross country teams gaining speed and numbers

Both high schools are looking at substantial rosters this year.

Runners from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cross country team practice during the preseason. (Courtesy photo / Tristan Knutson-Lombardo)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team were crowned state champions on Jun 5, 2021, winning the championship for the first time in approximately eight years, said coach Lexie Razor. (Courtesy photo / Shaley Hunt)

JDHS softball takes home state championship

High temps didn’t stop the softball team from bringing the heat.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team were crowned state champions on Jun 5, 2021, winning the championship for the first time in approximately eight years, said coach Lexie Razor. (Courtesy photo / Shaley Hunt)
David Timothy dons a state championship ring he won as a student manager with the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa. at Kalé basketball team and a recently acquired coach name tag. Timothy, who has Down syndrome, was recently named an assistant basketball coach at JDHS after he passed a coaching certification exam administered by the National Federation of High Schools. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Coaching from the heart

He’s been a manager, adviser and assistant. Now, he has a new role.

David Timothy dons a state championship ring he won as a student manager with the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa. at Kalé basketball team and a recently acquired coach name tag. Timothy, who has Down syndrome, was recently named an assistant basketball coach at JDHS after he passed a coaching certification exam administered by the National Federation of High Schools. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball and softball teams will travel to Anchorage this weekend to compete in their respective state tournaments. (Unsplash / Thomas Park)

Beginnings and ends: Teams head to state as others wind down

Young teams will make for lively seasons next year.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball and softball teams will travel to Anchorage this weekend to compete in their respective state tournaments. (Unsplash / Thomas Park)
Members of the TMHS boys soccer team celebrate winning the school’s first-ever, state-wide soccer championship besting Soldotna in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on May 29, 2021. (Courtesy Photo/Tim Lewis)

TMHS boys soccer brings home state championship

JDHS came in third

Members of the TMHS boys soccer team celebrate winning the school’s first-ever, state-wide soccer championship besting Soldotna in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on May 29, 2021. (Courtesy Photo/Tim Lewis)
Members of the JDHS girls soccer team celebrate after clinching the state soccer title. The team capped a perfect season by besting the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to clinch the Division II title. (Courtesy Photo/Carolyn Kelley)

JDHS girls soccer clinches state title

Juneau’s soccer teams dominate state tournament

Members of the JDHS girls soccer team celebrate after clinching the state soccer title. The team capped a perfect season by besting the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to clinch the Division II title. (Courtesy Photo/Carolyn Kelley)